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Arancini with Venere Black Rice and Shrimp

26/11/2023

Arancini with Venere rice and shrimp are a creative and tasty variation on the classic Sicilian arancini recipe. Venere rice, with its characteristic black color and unique flavor, combined with shrimp, makes this dish particularly elegant and flavorful. Below I will provide you with a recipe to prepare arancini with Venere rice and shrimp.

Ingredients

  • 200 g of Venere rice
  • 500 ml of vegetable broth
  • 200 g of already cleaned shrimp
  • 1 small shallot
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh chopped parsley
  • 50 g of butter
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan
  • 2 eggs
  • Flour to taste
  • Breadcrumbs to taste
  • Oil for frying

Preparation

  1. Start by rinsing the Venere rice under cold running water. Then, cook it in the vegetable broth until tender but still al dente (about 30-35 minutes depending on the package instructions).
  2. While the rice is cooking, finely chop the shallot and sauté it in a pan with a drizzle of oil and a whole clove of garlic. When the shallot is translucent, add the shrimp and cook for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add a bit of fresh chopped parsley. Remove the garlic clove.
  3. Once cooked, drain the Venere rice and let it cool slightly. Then stir in the butter, Parmesan, salt, and pepper, mixing well.
  4. Add the sautéed shrimp to the rice and let the mixture cool a bit more.
  5. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl. Shape the rice and shrimp mixture into arancini, then coat them first in flour, then in the beaten egg, and finally in breadcrumbs.
  6. Heat plenty of oil for frying in a pan. When the oil is hot, fry the arancini until golden and evenly crispy.
  7. Drain the arancini on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  8. Serve the arancini hot and fragrant, perhaps accompanied by a dipping sauce such as red pepper cream or a simple mayonnaise flavored with a bit of lemon juice and parsley.

Curiosità

Arancini, typical of the Sicily region, are traditionally stuffed in various ways, often with ragù, peas, and mozzarella for the most classic version. This variation with black rice and shrimp is an example of how Italian cuisine is capable of reinventing itself, embracing new ingredients and creating unique and surprising dishes.